Now, the only option for little Blacks is former slave Addy Walker. According to her accompanying books, she escaped from slavery in search for her father and brother during the Civil War era. When the famous doll company introduced Cécile Rey in 2011, she was praised “as an alternative for parents who found that educational narrative a bit heavy for playtime, or who simply want to provide their children with a broader picture of the black experience in America.” Cécile is described as “a bold, confident girl from a well-to-do African-American family.”

Jezebel reports that the change is part of a bigger revamp of the company’s historical collection. According to the official announcement, “This fall, the rest of the historical characters become BeForever, a fresh approach to these American Girl favorites that we’ll reveal in the coming months!”